Linux Distribution Recommendations

For Beginners

One size does not fil all. Some key differentiators to evaluate include:

1. the functionality/style of "Control Panel" and that is best asssesed by trying various live CD from the suggestions below
2. look-and-feel of the various Desktop enviroments
   • Unity
   • KDE
   • Gnome
   • LXDE
3. Applications
   • this should not be a "show-stopper"
   • whilst > 700 MB won't fit on a CD, most Distributions have large, on-line repositories from which many applications can be installed quite simply

Suggestions from PCUG's Linux SIG depend on perspective:

for best support from the SIG

1. Linux Mint
2. openSUSE
3. Ubuntu

for Windows/MacOS like experience

1. KDE variants of the above

uncomplicated/mobile computing

1. Peppermint

for netbooks and low spec hardware

1. Peppermint
2. PC Linux OS LXDE
3. Puppy
   • limited network security

for PCUG members having a dearth of download quota, the following are unmetered download from TIP

1. Ubuntu
   • an Ubuntu download should be redirected automatically to TIP server - but check your usage stats before & after

For Intermediate Users

for continual upgrade to latest software releases

1. openSUSE with Tumbleweed repository enabled
2. Ubuntu with Universe repository enabled

for fewest upgrades

1. Ubuntu (& derivatives) based on Long Term Support (LTS) core

for PCUG members having a dearth of download quota, the following are unmetered download from TIP

1. Ubuntu
2. Debian
   • an Ubuntu/Debian download should be redirected automatically to TIP server - but check your usage stats before & after

for netbooks and low spec hardware

1. Peppermint
2. PC Linux OS LXDE
3. the new razorqt desktop
   • www.qtdesktop.org
   • available for most major distributions

Specialised Distributions

utility CD

1. PartedMagic
2. SystemRescueCD

firewall/gateway/router

1. Smoothwall Express
2. IPFire
3. IPCop no longer recommended
   • release 1.4.x is stable, but no longer maintained
   • release 2.x less reliable

For Geeks

the following are generally regarded as not suited to beginners.

1. Arch
2. Gentoo
3. Slackware

--Rpeters 13:59, 19 August 2012 (EST)